Bossed Around, page 9
“Alexander and I… we’re not in a good place right now,” I confided, tracing the rim of my cup with a trembling finger. “I feel like I don’t know where I stand with him anymore.”
Natalie reached across the table, covering my hand with hers. “That must have been so hard for you,” she empathized, her touch offering solace amidst my turmoil. “I’ve seen things like this, you know. Business trips put a lot of strain on relationships, even business ones. And these negotiations have been brutal.”
“Thank you, Natalie,” I murmured, not wanting to tell her that this relationship wasn’t business in the slightest. “Your support means more to me than you’ll ever know.”
Our conversation continued, a balm for the ache that had burrowed deep within me. But as much as Natalie’s kind words soothed me, I couldn’t help but feel a gnawing sense of unease.
“Olivia! You’re needed in the conference room,” Max called out as soon as we returned.
I nodded, reluctantly extricating myself from the safety of Natalie’s embrace. As I strode through the office, the weight of my professional obligations chafed against the raw edges of my heart, creating a friction that set my nerves on edge.
Upon entering the conference room, I found myself face-to-face with Alexander. My skin prickled with awareness, as if every inch of my body longed to be touched by his hands, yet recoiled at the thought of the vulnerability that would entail.
“Let’s get started,” he said, his voice steady and commanding. I couldn’t help but notice the way his jaw tightened as he looked at me, betraying the strain that simmered beneath his composed facade.
My fingers curled into fists at my sides, nails biting into my palms as I fought to maintain control. The meeting proceeded around us, a storm of words and ideas that we navigated with feigned detachment. But beneath the surface, our connection crackled and sparked, a live wire that threatened to scorch everything in its path.
As the meeting concluded, I stood to leave, desperate for space to breathe and think. But Alexander caught my gaze, holding me captive for a moment that stretched into eternity.
“Olivia,” he murmured. “Let’s talk.”
“Later,” I managed to choke out, breaking free from his magnetic pull. I fled the room and sought refuge in the corner of Natalie’s office, where I intended to hide until we could get back home.
Chapter Eighteen
Olivia
The weight of a thousand emotions pushed down on me, threatening to crush my chest as I paced the confines of the suite. Alexander was out at a business dinner that he had said I didn’t have to attend.
I had thought it would be nice to have a reprieve from him, but after an hour of overthinking everything, I wasn’t so sure. I knew that I needed to get this out, and there was one person I felt like I could trust that actually knew Alexander.
I loved talking to Mia, but she didn’t know him. It felt different to tell someone that understood everything about Alexander without me having to explain. My fingers trembled, but I managed to dial Ethan’s number and pressed the phone against my ear.
“Olivia?” His voice was a soothing balm, calming my nerves. We had been texting off and on while I had been on this trip, and I had missed working with him.
“Hey, Ethan,” I choked out, swallowing the lump that had lodged itself in my throat. “I… I need someone to talk to.”
“Of course, Olivia. What’s going on?” He sounded genuinely concerned, and I felt my defenses beginning to crumble.
I heaved a sigh. “You remember how you joked that something would happen between Alexander and me if we were going to be sharing a room?”
He squealed, the noise so high-pitched I jerked the phone away from my ear. “I knew it! Is he amazing? He looks like he’d be amazing in bed. You have no idea how long I’ve been staring at that man just picturing what he could do to me. You are so lucky!”
A lump lodged in my throat. “I wasn’t that lucky,” I mumbled.
He heard it immediately, and his voice dropped down to a somber tone. “What happened?”
I had been wanting so long to just let it all out. I told Ethan everything, about how this started before we came on the trip, about Alexander’s promises, and about how worthless I felt when he didn’t show.
“Everything’s just… overwhelming,” I confessed, sinking onto my couch. “Ever since Alexander came into my life, it feels like I’ve lost control over my own emotions. I don’t know how to handle this.”
“Take a deep breath, Olivia,” Ethan instructed gently. I followed his advice, drawing in a shaky breath and then releasing it slowly. “Just take it one step at a time. Tell me what you’re feeling right now.”
“Scared,” I admitted. “Vulnerable. Like I am standing on the edge of a cliff and the world is pushing me towards the edge.”
“I know that has to be difficult, especially trapped alone with him,” Ethan reassured me. His words wrapped around me like a warm blanket, easing some of the tension that had been coiled tightly inside me. “But you don’t have to hold it all in. At least not with me. You are allowed to feel scared and vulnerable, Olivia.”
I bit my lip, tears pricking at the corners of my eyes. “I know, Ethan. And I’m grateful for your support. It’s just… I feel like I’m losing myself in all of this. I’ve never been so unsure of my decisions, and it terrifies me.”
“Olivia, you are an incredibly strong and resilient woman. You’ve faced challenges before, and you’ve always come out on top,” Ethan said. “You have the ability to confront these emotions head-on and make the right choices for yourself. I believe in you.”
His faith in me sent a flicker of warmth through my chest. “Thank you, Ethan.” My voice was rough, but it was laced with gratitude.
“You have so much to offer, Olivia. Your intelligence, your passion, your unwavering determination… all of these qualities make you a force to be reckoned with.”
His words seeped into my skin, and I felt myself slowly beginning to unfurl, like a flower opening its petals to the sunlight after a storm. “Ethan, I’ve been feeling like I’m in over my head lately. Like I’m not enough.”
“Olivia,” he said firmly, “that couldn’t be further from the truth. You’re more than enough. You know it, and I know it. But sometimes we all need a little reminder.”
“Thank you for being here for me,” I murmured, my fingers tracing patterns on the soft fabric of my bedsheets. There was a flutter in my chest, a stirring of something warm and deeply rooted that bloomed with every word he uttered.
“Always, Olivia.”
In that moment I realized just how invaluable Ethan’s support was. He listened intently, offering guidance when needed but never imposing his own opinions upon me. Instead, he encouraged me to find my own path, gently prodding me toward.
“Thank you, Ethan,” I said, filled with gratitude. “For everything.”
“Anytime, Olivia,” he replied softly, a smile evident in his voice. “I’ll always be here for you.”
The final click of the phone disconnecting filled the room, and a wave of determination washed over me. I stood up, my body thrumming with energy, and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window. The city’s pulse reverberated beneath my fingertips as they pressed against the cool glass; every sensation amplified and alive. I took a deep breath, inhaling the scent of rain and the electric charge in the air.
Ethan was right; I needed to confront the difficult decisions and emotions that lay ahead, not shy away from them.
I stepped away from the window, my heels clicking on the hardwood floor like a metronome, keeping time with my racing thoughts. Every fiber of my being buzzed with anticipation, desire, and fear, but I refused to let those emotions control me.
As I paced the room, my hands fiddled with the hem of my blouse, twisting the fabric between my fingers. It was a nervous habit I’d had for years, a telltale sign that I was grappling with something significant. And this time was no different.
Chapter Nineteen
Olivia
The silence in our shared suite was suffocating as Alexander and I packed our things. It was our last day at the hotel, and we hadn’t spoken to each other since yesterday’s debacle. He had returned relatively early last night, finding me asleep on the couch. I vaguely recalled being lifted into strong arms and carried to bed—a tender gesture that surprised me coming from him. But neither of us had acknowledged it, and now this oppressive quiet hung between us like a thick fog.
“Did you check the drawers?” Alexander asked, his voice cool and detached, shattering the silence.
“Um, yes,” I replied, avoiding his gaze as I zipped my suitcase shut. The memory of his arms around me still lingered, warming my skin, but I pushed it away. This was no time for fantasies; my heart and career were at stake.
“Let’s go then,” he said, grabbing his own luggage.
We made our way to the car waiting for us outside, the tension between us growing with each step. Once inside, I stared out the window, the passing scenery a blur.
Could I keep working for Alexander and protect my feelings at the same time? My body yearned for his touch, remembering the heat of our previous encounters. Yet, could I truly trust a man who toyed with my emotions like a master puppeteer?
“Olivia, are you okay?” His question caught me off guard, and I turned to face him, searching his eyes for sincerity.
“Fine, just tired,” I lied, averting my gaze once more.
“Get some rest on the plane,” he suggested, his tone unreadable.
“Thanks,” I muttered, and fell silent again.
As we boarded his private plane, those inner demons continued to torment me.
The plane’s engines roared to life, drowning out my thoughts as we took off. As I stole a glance at Alexander, I caught him watching me out of the corner of his eye, but he quickly looked away, ignoring me for the rest of the flight.
The memory of his strong arms carrying me to bed still haunted me, making it impossible to focus on anything else.
As I rested my head against the window, I watched the clouds pass by like lovers entwined, their ethereal dance only amplifying my longing for Alexander. My skin tingled with the phantom sensation of his touch, and I couldn’t help but crave more.
“Olivia,” he said suddenly, snapping me out of my daydreams. “We’re about to land.”
“Right, thanks,” I muttered. I couldn’t let him know how much he affected me, especially now that he seemed so distant.
The landing was smooth, but my heart continued to race as we disembarked and parted ways. As I returned to my apartment, the silence within its walls was deafening, swallowed whole by echoes of desire and doubt.
No sooner had I closed the door behind me than there was a knock. I opened it to find Ethan standing there with an armful of snacks.
“Movie night!” he announced, grinning from ear to ear. Relief washed over me; I could use the distraction. “I know you just got back, but it’s been too long! I had to come over.”
“Thank God you’re here,” I said, stepping aside to let him in. “I’ve had one hell of a trip.”
As we settled onto the couch, Ethan’s presence provided a sense of comfort and familiarity that I desperately needed.
“Everything’s going to be okay,” Ethan reassured me, squeezing my hand. And for now, that was enough.
The scent of buttery popcorn filled the room, mixing with the faint lavender aroma from my candles. Ethan popped the DVD into the player, and we both sank into the plush cushions of my couch. The flickering light from the TV screen cast a soft glow over us, illuminating the mischievous glint in Ethan’s hazel eyes.
“Okay, so you’d never guess who hooked up at the office party last week,” he whispered conspiratorially, a wicked grin tugging at the corners of his lips.
“Who?” I asked, my curiosity piqued as I took a handful of popcorn and stuffed it into my mouth.
“Sarah from HR and Brad from accounting,” Ethan revealed with a dramatic flourish, making me choke on my popcorn and laugh simultaneously.
“Shut up!” I exclaimed, swallowing hard to clear my throat. “I thought Brad was dating that intern!”
“Apparently not anymore,” Ethan said, smirking as he tossed a few pieces of popcorn into his mouth.
We continued to gossip and laugh, the stress and tension from the trip gradually melting away as I lost myself in the familiar banter between us.
“Hey,” Ethan said, his voice suddenly serious as he turned to face me. “Did anything else happen between you and Alexander?”
I hesitated for a moment as I recalled the agonizing silence that stretched between us during our journey home. “We didn’t talk the entire way back,” I confessed, my voice barely above a whisper. “I don’t know where I stand with him now—personally or professionally.”
Ethan reached out and gently rested his hand on mine, the warmth of his touch seeping into my skin like a soothing balm. “It’s okay to be confused,” he murmured, his eyes filled with empathy and understanding. “Just don’t let it consume you, all right?”
I nodded, my throat tight with unshed tears.
“Thanks, Ethan,” I whispered, leaning into his embrace as we turned our attention back to the movie. For now, I allowed myself to find solace in the arms of my best friend, pushing aside the questions that still lingered in the shadows of my mind.
Chapter Twenty
Olivia
I headed toward the dimly lit bar to grab another drink, a low hum of conversation and laughter wrapping around me like a velvet curtain. I had already had a few at Ethan’s insistence, and I was starting to feel good.
It was a small place right down the street from our office and our usual hangout spot. Even the management graced it with their presence sometimes.
Ethan, Sarah, and a few others were still in the back corner playing darts. I set the glass on the bar and motioned for another, turning to watch them as Ethan threw a dart and missed the board completely. I laughed under my breath, shaking my head.
“Olivia,” a familiar voice called out, and I swiveled in its direction to find Christopher leaning against the bar, a drink clutched in his hand. Surprise washed over me, mingling with the unease that had been gnawing at me all evening when I spotted Alexander’s brother. What could he want?
“Christopher,” I greeted him, my voice steady despite my inner turmoil. “What are you doing here?”
“Alexander mentioned you might be here tonight,” he explained, his gaze penetrating mine as if searching for something deep within me.
“Did he send you?” I asked, trying to keep the bitterness from my voice.
“No,” he chuckled softly, shaking his head. “I just wanted to talk to you.”
I hesitated, but curiosity got the better of me. “Talk about what?”
“Alexander,” he said simply.
“Look, Christopher,” I began, my defenses rising, “I don’t need any more of Alexander’s games or manipulations.” I had no doubt he had told his brother everything, from his point of view at least.
“Trust me,” he replied, intense enough to make me pause, “this isn’t about any games. This is about the man behind them.” He motioned for me to join him at the bar, and as reluctant as I was to delve back into the twisted world of Alexander, I couldn’t deny the allure of understanding him on a deeper level.
“Alright,” I relented, sliding onto a stool beside him.
“Alexander has always been…” Christopher trailed off, searching for the right words, “complicated.”
“Complicated” seemed to be an apt description of the man who had captivated and infuriated me in equal measure. It didn’t, however, shed any light on what I knew about him.
“His life had been filled with challenges and setbacks,” Christopher continued as he leaned in closer to me. “He had to fight for everything he had, and that shaped the way he saw the world.”
“Does that justify his actions?” I asked, struggling to reconcile this new perspective with the Alexander I had come to know.
“Maybe not,” Christopher admitted, “but understanding where he came from might help you see why he was drawn to you, Olivia. He’s never connected with someone like he has with you. The intensity of it terrified him, and sometimes, that fear drove him to make questionable decisions.”
My breath caught in my throat as I processed his words. Christopher’s insight into Alexander’s complex nature offered a window into the man I had been trying to understand, one who had captivated me despite the turmoil he brought.
A blush crept up my neck as Christopher’s gaze lingered on me, the intensity of his stare piercing through any facade I might have been wearing. The weight of his revelation settled upon me, forcing me to confront the truth of Alexander’s feelings.
“Are you sure?” I asked, my voice barely a whisper. “He… he really feels that way about me?”
“Absolutely,” Christopher replied, his expression softening. “I’ve known him all my life, and I’ve never seen him so emotionally invested in someone. You’ve awakened something in him, Olivia, something he didn’t even know existed.”
My spirit swelled at his words, tendrils of hope unfurling within me. I bit the inside of my cheek, torn between the desire to believe him and the uncertainty that had haunted me since my relationship with Alexander had begun.
“Then why did he push me away?” I asked, my fingers absently tracing the rim of my wine glass, the cool condensation grounding me. “Why did he hurt me if he truly cared?” Why didn’t he trust me?
“Because he was scared,” Christopher answered, reaching out to gently touch my hand. “And sometimes, fear can make us act irrationally.”
The sincerity in Christopher’s eyes was undeniable, and I found myself yearning to trust his words. The possibility that Alexander’s actions stemmed from vulnerability rather than malice forced me to reevaluate everything I thought I knew about him.
